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Self-Training Ain’t Easy: How To Coach Yourself

a Guide by Hoopologie Ambassador, multidisciplinary movement artist, theatre maker, and live art Performer Symoné (@symoneforever)

Symoné is a queer multidisciplinary movement artist, theatre maker, and live art performer from Washington DC based in the U.K.  Her movement practice is an integration of various skills; roller skates (both high heel and artistic skates) fused with my multiple hula hooping, pole dancing, and voguing. She has worked internationally in 10 different countries,  toured with pop-star OMI in his hit song, ‘Hula Hoop’ (precision remix), performed in London’s West End with award-winning cabaret company La Soirée at Aldwych Theatre and at The Palace Theatre with celebrity magician Chris Cox. 

Symoné is an ambassador with Hoopologie, holds a Guinness World Record and always has something new up her sleeve to create sensation.

Self-Training Ain’t Easy

I have found that teaching myself to advance my skills is a very specific way of thinking that only solidifies itself with practice. Self-training is a skill I’ve learned takes a lot of trial and error, discipline, and self-awareness. I have a huge interest in learning on my own, it’s like an exciting puzzle to me, while I occasionally attend workshops, classes, and Google ‘how tos’, the majority of the time I have a passion to figure it out solo. If you find your training and upskilling is stagnant or you’re interested in getting inspired by some new methods of training, I have written this for you!

Plan Your Session
This is where you ask yourself, what do I want to achieve? Is there anything in your current regime holding you back from your goals? Consider both the short term (i.e. one specific session) and long term goals. Consistency in our goals is important to get ourselves closer to them. This is obvious, but it’s important to be self-aware when we’re getting distracted away from goals or when we give up halfway. How can you keep yourself on track?
Our minds work better towards deadlines, so give yourself a couple of goals you can achieve by a specific time. In addition, I would suggest giving a reason for this goal, a certain type of deadline pressure can help you. Consider how you can set goals and how you can achieve them, knowing that hard work and patience is essential.

Set & Setting
Make wherever you’re training a place you know you will feel motivated and focused. Consider music, public vs private spaces, lighting, temperature, etc. Consider the impact of a public park on sunny Summer’s day that is very vibrantly popular vs. a solo studio with mirrors, speakers and temperature control.  Wherever you decide to train, consider a place that excites you, you have the space and tools to support you, and a place you can get the work done.

Be Your Own Coach
Being your own coach takes practice, it requires a certain amount of self-assurance, honesty and self-discipline. You have to learn the balance between two voices, one that is loving and mindful of your well-being and a strict voice. Here’s what might help: Imagine someone in your life or a fictional character that motivated others or themselves to be the best that they can be. What traits does that person have that can inspire you? Imagine those moments of wanting to give up and giving it 3 extra pushes. You will have to find the best techniques to coach yourself in these hard moments, whether it be mantras or affirmations or motivational music that keeps you going.

Overall, what makes your discipline special is that it’s probably self-empowering, so to have the ability to teach yourself is a real skill. It can take years to find out how to do this (it definitely did for me). I think priority in my opinion is to be safe when learning high skilled goals, just like any training session safety for a student is really important in the eyes of a coach, so research and be mindful of your body when you push yourself. You will find your own unique balance for being a coach based on your personality, for me I am 40% self-care and 60% strict, but that’s purely because of my personality, and that alters based on the discipline. So, depending on your goals, your familiarity and knowledge of a skill or prop, ask yourself how you need to coach yourself, what do you need to grow?

Training
When I say training, I don’t mean aimlessly moving to music until you run out of time or steam (unless the aim is to move aimlessly!), in my definition here training has an intention. When you know what you want to achieve, you can determine effective training methods to help you get closer. How do you like to learn?

First, break down what your goal requires, throughout the training this may alter. You will find that you might need to learn more or less than you expected, regardless it’s important you create a training regime that is effective. Consider your favourite classes and workshops in the past and how that specific teacher laid out the lesson, what worked for you and what did not? Consider what your goals are and what you need to reach this, again this requires you to be very honest with yourself.

Keeping Focused
Remember it’s always about staying motivated and excited about your goals, so it’s important to take away what will be distracting to you. Being both physically and mentally in the room (or location) you are training in is important, if your head is elsewhere or you’re emotionally not feeling balanced this can make it difficult to focus. That’s okay, because progress is not a straight line.

Remember it’s always about staying motivated and excited about your goals, so it’s important to take away what will be distracting to you. Being both physically and mentally in the room (or location) you are training in is important, if your head is elsewhere or you’re emotionally not feeling balanced this can make it difficult to focus. That’s okay, because progress is not a straight line.

Consider not going online/social media during your sessions. Use timers and use music that will keep yourself pumped! Being present and focusing your mind and body into the session will help you get the most out of it.

Goal Setting & Keeping on Track in Sessions
You want to look back and know how far you’ve come! Top tip for this, take photos and videos, or keep a journal and write after each session, talk about what drills you did, what went well, what didn’t, and what you could do to progress. Personally, I love writing about how I feel in a training journal, “I’ve been working on x for months and I finally got it today!”. It reminds me what I was actually thinking and feeling that day, sometimes footage can’t capture these important milestones. Keeping some documentation of when you did something awesome will remind you of that time you went through hard times, you might need that reminder!

Goal Setting & Progressing
Just remember; progression is not a straight line, okay? Your own self awareness will help you to understand your own balance of being patient and pushing your boundaries. Overall, I always suggest that resting/time off away from training is equally as important as the training itself. By that I mean that over training does exist and affects you both emotionally and physically. 

End on a Good Note
If your prop drops or you fall, get up and do something silly. You want to feel good after a session so you’re excited to keep progressing, so be sure to do something that makes you feel successful at the end. 

Extra Thoughts

Trickery: I like to play with trickery when I set goals. Sometimes this means doing something I’ve convinced myself isn’t achievable and sometimes this means starting on the lesser trained side and doing it twice. Implementing playfulness is something that I find supports me into tricking myself that I’m just having fun and it’s not hard work. Set & setting can influence trickery as well, for example jamming with friends or setting a nice playful or relaxing environment can feel like your session will be relaxing and playful rather than an intense workout, but yet it is progressive.

Use your breath: Relaxation during those complex tricks or skills (i.e. advance flexibility) will help you really ease into it and push into your end range. Breath is also really great to play with when freestyling or in choreography as well.

Follow the rules: Technique isn’t easy but it’s worth getting things right so you can be lazy. By that, I mean some advanced tricks require a lot from your body, say strength or flexibility, it’s important you train safely and don’t rush learning. Once you feel comfortable you can really play around with it!

Break the rules: Following the rules is important for strength training and conditioning, but I think in terms of tricks, flow and styles, breaking the rules can make your movements more personal. Feel free to challenge anything I’ve written, it might work better for you.

Bonus: 3 Exercises to help with flow and choreography

Take ten minutes maximum to choreograph and memorize a sequence (5 minutes to create 5 minute to repeat and memorize). Put on different songs and repeat the same choreography and counts created, practice changing style, groove, additional physical flairs, and character.

Put on a playlist and freestyle with and without your prop. The goal is to dance with your eyes. By this I mean, don’t let the prop do all of the work, use your face and your gaze in your performance.

Pick a trick or a pose. Find 5 new ways to enter and 5 new ways to exit out of this move. This will help vary your transitions and help you stop repeating sequences too much.

Stay In Touch!

I’m really interested to hear how people upskill and create. Self-training is a very important part of my practice and I’m always excited to get inspired by others. I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to connect or drop me a line. 

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July 28, 2021 by
Hoop Making, Hoop Making Information, Hoop Making Supplies, Hoop Sizing, Hooping and life wisdom, Hooping flow, Hooping For Health, Hoopologie Team

Reasons to Start Hula Hooping Today!

Let’s face it… Over the last year we have all seen our lives come to a grinding halt in more ways than one. Many people are spending more time at home than ever. Some folks are home working, others have become homeschool teachers and cafeteria staff, and many have found it increasingly more difficult to get the exercise they want. With gyms around the country operating at minimum capacity, a cautious hesitation to spend too much time around others, and a household to run, you may be wondering how you can find an exercise to get you going. Well, we have one idea that will get you moving and having fun.

It is a great way to exercise.

It’s probably been a few years since you picked up a hula hoop and gave it a spin, but any old hoop won’t do. One of the best ways to set yourself up for a successfully hula hoop journey is to make sure you are using a hoop that is the correct size for you. When holding the hoop up beside you, it should reach your waist. Your best bet is to make your own beginner hula hoop.

Once you’ve got your hands on your dream hoop, the fun part gets to start. Before beginning any exercise routine, it is important to stretch your arms, legs, back, and torso. You should be able to notice a difference in your posture and positioning once you’re limber and relaxed. Swing the hoop around your waist and shift your weight back and forth, building momentum as the hoop spins around you. Start slowly and give yourself plenty of space to find your rhythm and flow. As you continue to practice each day, be conscious of working yourself up to 30 minutes of active hooping.

image of Woman in meditative position in front of sun approaching flow state

The surprising perks to consider.

In the event you still are not convinced that hooping is for you, we have a few more reasons you’ll join the fun soon enough. The benefits of hula hooping cannot be debated. If you pick one up and dedicate a little time to it each day, you will quickly see a difference.

Burn loads of calories.

Did you know you could be burning up to 450 calories after an hour of hula hooping? With traditional gym and exercise routines, you’ll be lucky to burn 300 calories per workout… That’s a huge difference! Anyone trying to drop a significant amount of weight or looking for ways to get your heart rate up, hooping is the solution for you.

Help alleviate back pain.

Do you suffer from back issues and pain? If the answer is yes, you have certainly tried your fair share of options to find relief. One of the major proponents of back pain is poor posture; what starts as sore shoulders will seemingly stretch down your back before you know what happened. Hula hooping is a fantastic way to practice proper posture while strengthening your core muscles. You’ll notice right away it is virtually impossible to hoop when you are slouched over!

Enhance your mind and body connection.

Meditation is an exceptional way to refocus your mind, clear out negative thoughts, and spend some time in your own mind – peacefully. Some of us may struggle to find the calm through traditional meditation practices, but the combination of aerobics, mental focus, and rhythmic movements is a sure way to help quiet the outside world. Any opportunity to find a way to lower stress levels while getting your heart pumping is worth a shot.

Don’t wait – get yourself a hula hoop today!

We all have a lot to keep track of during our daily lives, and for many of us, our exercise routines are the first things to go. Juggling day-to-day tasks, running errands, paying bills, and making time to swing by the gym may not be very practical, but who needs to hassle with a gym when you can exercise right at home. Get your family involved and make it an activity everyone will enjoy. Before you know it, you’ll be raving about the benefits of hooping. What is your favorite part of hula hooping? What made you get started?

Hoopmakers University
A comprehensive guide for hoopsmiths and hoopers – answering all of your questions from deciphering sizing of tubing, tubing types, how to create the perfect connection, the tools you’ll need to create a hoop, and beyond!!


February 22, 2021 by
Hoop Making, Hoop Making Information, Hoop Making Supplies, Hoop Sizing, Hooping and life wisdom, Hooping flow, Hooping For Health, Hoopologie Team

Hula Hooping: Find Your Inspiration

Welcome Hoopers!

Whether you are just starting out with hula hooping, or you’ve become a master, you may find there are days you just don’t feel like getting up and moving. Maybe you’ve had a long week, you’re feeling especially tired, and the house needs to be cleaned… You have just got too much to do! But putting yourself first is a priority and when you find yourself in a rut, it can seem impossible to find the motivation you need. Well, grab your hula hoop and get yourself pumped about hooping! We’ve got a few ideas we’re certain you’ll enjoy.

Use a hoop you love.

If you’ve never taken the time to create your own custom hoop, you are missing out on a genuinely exciting experience. When you buy a hula hoop from a hobby or craft store, there are limited options available. Making your own hula hoop is an easy project anyone can do. You’ll need a few supplies to get started, but don’t fret, Hoopologie has got everything you need – and then some.

Add a personal touch to your hula hoop.

Hoop tape has a variety of functions other than being aesthetically pleasing. In fact, there are infinite choices when you start looking. Some tapes help the user to grip the hoop while dancing and others add a protective layer so you don’t have to worry about dings and scrapes on your hula hoop. Gaffer, reflective, and mirror tapes are often used to enhance the personality of your hula hoop and come in every color you can imagine. We’ll show you everything you need to know about hula hoop take and how to take your hoop to the next level.

Amanda Brewer – @misshoopdido

Create a playlist of tunes.

Have you ever attended a music and art festival or outdoor concert? You’ll be hard pressed to miss the group of folks’ hula hooping and dancing through the crowd. Music is great for the soul and is an exceptional way to tap into all kinds of emotions and bottled up energy. When you add a physical activity to the mix, like hula hooping, you’re opening yourself up to a brand-new experience. Opening your mind and losing yourself in your activity is a great way to tap into your flow state.

Find your hoop space.

Getting into your element makes a big difference. If you normally enjoy spending your time outside in the sunshine, you may find it is easier to find your groove when you hoop in your favorite places. Set your thoughts aside, find your happy place, and express yourself in a way that makes your feel good – mentally and physically. There are many benefits of hula hooping you may not have considered! So, get your heart rate up, your hips moving, and take your hoop on an adventure!

We are passionate about hooping!

At Hoopologie, we are inspired by love, creativity, and FLOW. Sharing our passion for hula hooping with you is at the core of who we are. We want to hear from you so leave a comment! What inspires you?

Hoopmakers University
A comprehensive guide for hoopsmiths and hoopers – answering all of your questions from deciphering sizing of tubing, tubing types, how to create the perfect connection, the tools you’ll need to create a hoop, and beyond!!


August 21, 2020 by
Ambassadors, Community, Hoop Making, Hoop Sizing, Hooping and life wisdom, Hooping flow, Hooping For Health, Hoopologie Team, Meditation, Meditative Hooping

What’s all the Hoopla about?

Welcome Hoopers!

Whether you’re new to hooping and aren’t sure where to start, or are looking to refresh your practice, look no further!

Think back to your happiest memory; where time felt like it was stopped, when your senses were in-tune, and you were completely present. This euphoric state of mind can be achieved through movement, exercise, and creative expression is commonly known as the “flow state”, “movement meditation”, or compared to “runner’s high”. Now, imagine an activity that could transport you to that blissful, peaceful place?

Hula hooping, or hoop dance, is a playful, aerobic exercise, and is fabulously effective in helping reach fitness goals. Hooping also increases energy levels, confidence, dexterity and coordination, mental clarity, as well as providing a sense of achievement. With mental-health issues, stress, anxiety, and depression at an all time high, people are exploring creative ways to emote, express, release, and play. Some are learning a new sport, or a new style of fitness, while some are exploring their favorite childhood toys and pastimes.

If you’re brand new to hooping, internet searches can be confusing and overwhelming. Here at Hoopologie, we’ve created a Beginner Hooper Guide starting with the basics including; beginner hoop recommendations, differences in tubing, grip (tape, sanding, wax), posture, tips for success, and more.

Hoopologie Ambassdor, Hillia Hula describes the “Top 8 Things ALL New Hoopers Should Know”

Lets get started!
What size hoop is best for me?
Hoopologie’s standard Beginner Hoop recommendation is a 40″ diameter hoop or larger, made with a minimum of 3/4″ diameter tubing, but preferably, 7/8″ diameter tubing. Many hoopers’ first hoops are heavy, weighted fitness hoops from their local department stores or internet searches and are often 2lbs or heavier. Our heaviest fitness hoops are 1.2 – 1.5lbs, making a mid-weight hoop that is suitable for hoopers developing their muscle memory, while light enough to not leave bruising and soreness.

What different kinds of tubing are available and which one should I choose?
Polypropylene (Polypro): Polypro tubing is the most widely available and popular type of tubing on the market today. Polypro is a light, bouncy, and responsive tubing that is loved by hoopers of all experience levels. While quite durable, polypro has its weaknesses. It can be fragile in extremely cold climates, suseptable to warping and misshaping in extreme heat, and can crack under pressure.
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE): HDPE is a fan favorite amongst hoop makers and hoopers alike. HDPE is a light, durable tubing, with a firmness unlike polypro, yet responsive and quick moving. Hoop-smiths everywhere love HDPE tubing for its forgiving attributes, ability to retain its shape, and ease to cut and manipulate.
Polyethylene (PE): PE tubing identical to the black irrigation tubing found at many hardware stores, only Hoopologie made it custom in white. This tubing is a medium weight ideal for beginner – intermediate hoops. 
Stardust (Polypropylene): Stardust tubing is a proprietary blend, custom designed by and made for Hoopologie. This stunning, glittery tubing is a show-stopper, especially in the bright sunshine! Stardust tubing is specially made to be more bouncy, more responsive, and more grippy. These attributes can have side effects that can affect this tubing – it is more delicate in colder temperatures and can crack with impacts on hard surfaces. *Stardust tubing is not recommended for newer hoopers or children*

What kinds of grip options are out there and which one should I choose?
While few things feel as nice as a fresh hula hoop with no scuffs, scratches, or markings, a perfectly smooth hula hoop can be increasingly challenging to maintain a level and consistent spin. There are many grip options out there, here are the most common:
Sanding: Sanding is the most budget friendly grip option and allows each individual hooper to choose their intensity of grip.
TIP: Gently rub a piece of fresh sandpaper around the inner rim of your hoop 1-2x or until desired result is achieved.
Wax: Hoop wax is often made with a bees-wax base and is applied in a similar way as sanding. Hoop wax is made in-house and can be purchased as an addition to your hoop.
TIP: Hoop wax is not recommended for taped hoops
Tapes (gaffer, electrical, low-profile, and 3m): Many beginner hoops made today are crafted with grip tape.
Electrical tape has a smooth, yet grippy texture and is quite durable.
Gaffer tape comes in many colors and widths, making it a great addition to both bare and taped hoops, however, gaffer tape’s adhesive may weaken if exposed to too much moisture.
Low-profile grip tape is a durable, thin, and grippy tape, perfect for bare polypro and HDPE hoops. *Not recommended for taped hoops*
3m is a soft, textured surface at 33 mils (0.8 mm) thick that is durable and abrasion resistant. 3M tape adds amazing grip and cushioning to all kinds of hoops.

Symoné – @symoneforever

Travel Hoops vs Sectionals vs Collapsible
Love taking your hoop every where with you? Many hoops are fastened closed with tape, a connecting joint, or some combination of the two, making it challenging carry your hoop with you. Over the last few years, hoops have begun to be made with a push-button connection.
The Collapsible hoop allows the hooper to disconnect the hoop at its joint and coil it down to attach to a bag, etc.
Sectional and travel hoops are gaining more and more popularity, allowing hoopers to take their hoops any and every where with them – the Hoopnotica Travel Hoop is perfect for beginners and experienced hoopers alike; made with 1″ diameter tubing, push-button connectors, spiraled with beautiful mirror tape and gaffer (grip) tape, a travel strap and can be connected with 6 segments to create a 42″ diameter hoop, and 5 segments to create a 37″ diameter hoop.

Morgan Jenkins – @missmojangles – How To Assemble Your Hoopnotica Travel Hoop

Posture, Stretching, and Breathing exercises.

Mykah Smith – @bahamahoopyogi

Hoop dance helps hoopers of all body types increase mind/body connection, coordination, stamina, energy levels, and mental clarity. When you first begin hooping, you may feel muscle activation of muscles you didn’t know existed! You may experience some mild soreness when you first begin hooping, though there are a few postural adjustments you can make to extend your practice times and feel more receptive to new muscle memory connections.
Before hooping: Hydrate, especially if you’re living and hooping in hot or very dry climates, or dancing in the direct sun.
Stretch: With your hoop; lift your hoop over head and do a few, slow, mindful stretches to each side. Forward fold while holding your hoop in front of you, soften your knees and hinge from your hips rather than rounding over your low back. Quad stretch – hold your hoop in front of your body, step one foot the hoop, hook your hoop on your back-leg ankle and gently lift your leg in the air until you feel a stretch in your quad. Repeat on each side. Open your shoulders *hoop optional* – windmill one arm at a time in a forward circular motion for 30 seconds, reverse the rotation of your hand and repeat on each side, in each direction for 30 seconds.
Posture: Keep your knees and elbows soft – don’t lock your joints out. Relax your shoulders down your back, lift your sternum, rest your facial muscles, and find a comfortable and sturdy stance. Intentional breath can immensely help your practice, focus, energy levels, and mood – so don’t forget to take steady and calm breaths and allow your body to move through your flow.


Tricks and Tutorials
Hoopologie’s Ambassadors

Eshna Kutty – @eshnakutty
Nicole Goss – @blackgurlhoopin
Mykah Smith – @bahamahoopyogi
Morgan Jenkins @missmojangles
Amanda Brewer – @misshoopdido
Lee Jeffries – @photographlee
Jocelyn Gordon – @hoopyogini_worldwide
Michele Clark – @michelefrancisclark
Symoné – @symoneforever
Shani Blueford – @shani_anne_marvelous
Chloe Somers Wall – @thechloesomers
Emma Kenna – @hoopingmad
Sanda Safire – @safirehoopdance
Mike Hayataka – @thathoopguy
Ali Padiak – @alihoopmama
Marianna De Sanctis – @mariannadesanctis
Twisted Orbit – Bags & Valentina – @twistedorbit
Gail O’ Brien – @gailobrienhoop
Lisa Looping – @lisalooping
Lisa Lotti – @lisa_lotti
Trixie Turvey – @trixieturvy
Ninja Hoops – Zach & Marria – @ninjahoops
Kenya Fluroscente – @kenyaflowrescente
Kate Ryan – @kateryancircus
Hillia Hula – @hillia_hula
Jenny Tufts – Circle Cirque – @circlecirque
Sky Flow Artist – @skyflowartist
Ben Cirka – @bencirka
Anna Fisher – @annafisher_

Top Recommended Instructors
Deanne Love – @deannelovexo
MadAboutHoops – children’s classes/summer camps – Madison McBurney and Amy Neel – @madabouthoops.

Hoopmakers University
A comprehensive guide for hoopsmiths and hoopers – answering all of your questions from deciphering sizing of tubing, tubing types, how to create the perfect connection, the tools you’ll need to create a hoop, and beyond!!


July 20, 2020 by
Ambassadors, Hooping and life wisdom, Hooping flow, Hoopologie Team, Kate Ryan, Uncategorized

Increasing Flexibility for Hoopers

Increasing Flexibility for Hoopers

 

Hey Hoopers and gonna’ be Bendy Babes (boys and girls!).

Do the words “I’m not flexible” or “I’ll never be flexible” ring a bell?

They do for me.

Despite what you’ve been told, or may have been telling yourself, being flexible is accessible to any one of us that wants to be flexible. The  misconception here is if you haven’t been training since you were four, you will never make any progress now. How wrong that is!

Here’s my story. I was nineteen years old when I started training dance hoops and contortion. I had no experiencing in flexibility training or any knowledge of how my body “flowed”. I started from ground zero. What worked for me was having this realization that my body was merely made of knots. Knots that I had been ignoring for nineteen years, and each knot represented a part of my past. The more I worked on untying these knots the happier I was and the more flexible I became (in both mind and body, yoga jazz).

 

Upon the realization that I was flexible, my body became flexible.

As long as I worked towards untying those knots my body would loosen and bend into it’s new mold, that be touching my toes, going for full splits, or deep back bending. It took twelve uncomfortable months and many breakthrough moments but eventually I did touch my toes and as more time passed I saw my body accomplishing what I once thought impossible for myself.

And that will happen for you!

Hooping has changed the way I look at my health and potential. It has improved my cardio and coordination, strength and flexibility and inspired me to be in the best shape of my life.

Every milestone we pass, is another knot untied.

In this article I’ll be sharing tips and tricks on increasing flexibility to pull off some of those tricky hoop combos and yoga poses you want to perform. I wish you all the best in your bendy journey, keep practicing and keep playing – progress will happen! Let me know if you have any tips I may have missed, feel free to share them with the community in the comments section below.

1. Brainstorm and Visualize

 Seeing is believing! Think of some of the kick ass flex poses that you want to work towards and visualize yourself doing them. It will create confidence in the poses. I’ve gone as far as to dreaming my way through the trouble shooting of balance and poise. You can doodle, draw or paint the poses you hope to one day accomplish. Having a picture to look at every day will keep you inspired.

 

Create a list for yourself of what you hope to accomplish in the new year.

The first yoga poses/asanas I chose were;

– Forearm Stand (foot hooping)

– Anything with a Back-bend!

– Dancers Pose

– Shoulder Stand to Tiger Pose (footing hooping and roll over)

My shoulder stand to tiger pose (foot hooping roll over) was something I had thought of doing for years but doubted I could. One night, after visualizing myself performing the roll over I was able to troubleshoot the dynamics and perform the trick.

Share your brainstorming with us in the comments section,

 2. Join a Yoga Class

Yoga is pretty much accessible wherever you go. Search for studios in your area and check out the local teachers. Practitioners of an advanced yoga background are usually more than happy to give you pointers on your journey.

When I first moved to Australia I couldn’t afford to take yoga classes as much as I wanted to, so I signed up for a “work trade” program. The work trade programs ask for you to clean the studio and work reception tasks in trade for yoga classes. This program is available all over the world but is not often advertised. You may have to ask around and check in with multiple studios before you find the right fit. This is an alternative way you can seek mentor-ship on a budget.

Having a regular practice and studio will motivate you to make use of the tools available for yourself.

3. Accept Growing Phase

When you first start working towards a deeper practice understand that almost everything will feel weird and new to your body. It’s not about looking pretty or getting there the fastest, take your time and enjoy the plausible falls and shakes.

When working towards an advanced goal, set mini goals.

For example,

“The next time I practice I will hold for X seconds”

“Today I will try X yoga pose/ asana”

Remind yourself of how far you have come. Taking progress pictures is a great way to keep up with your training.

 

 Take time and enjoy the knots you untie.

4. Bendy Friends and hoop

 

Having someone to stretch with will bring new energy into your practice and motivate you both to make progress in your training. Set play dates with your friends, gym dates, park dates, etc. It’s a great way to avoid repetitive practice.

You can challenge your friend and set goals together, or skill share your different experiences and specialties.

Acro Yoga is a great practice for improving your balance and coordination, join a class with your new best bendy friend and have fun!

 

Bring your hoop to stretch with you.

Flowing through the poses with and without a hoop will improve your balance and coordination. Try footing hooping through a series of yoga asanas or standing balance poses while knee hooping.

Not sure where to find like minded bendy babes? If you have a circus studio join one of the drop in classes and ask around. Look into yoga classes and workshop series featuring acro yoga, hooping, etc. Join local jams and put yourself out there! Don’t be afraid to ask for support when you need it.

5. Youtube

When in doubt, turn to the internet for never ending inspiration and videos (but don’t spend to much time “training” behind your screen). There is a never ending source of flexibility training videos on Youtube targeting the muscles groups you want. The internet is also a great place to find hooping tutorials to help break down some of the advances bendy poses you are going for.

Below I’ve link some of my favorite flexibility and training videos.

Contortion Warm Up

Front Splits with Andrew McQueen (my first trainer in Australia)
Visha Lu Calgary Contortionist

Otgo Waller

Hoop Yogini, Hoop Yoga

and this girl, just for fun..

6. Stretch everywhere

Short and sweet, where ever and when ever you can, stretch! Try stretching during your every day tasks, like brushing your teeth or when you’re in the shower (don’t fall, that’d be horrible). You can stretch while you’re waiting for the bus or cooking a meal. It’s great to keep your body warmed up and those five minutes will make a difference in your practice.

That’s all for now, keep at it! Bendy Babes!

Love, Kate

January 31, 2017 by
Hooping and life wisdom, Hooping flow, Spin Summit

5 Things The Spin Summit Helped Me Understand On An Even Deeper Level

 

Amber Lane of Lucid Hooping at the Spin Summit 2014

Amber Lane of Lucid Hooping at the Spin Summit 2014 – Photo Credit: Rachel Coughlin

 

Ideas and concepts are constantly introduced to us and expanded upon by our surroundings and experiences throughout our lives. Whether it comes easily or not, these understandings are continually changing, evolving, and being understood on more profound levels, and sometimes even being debunked and replaced with new ones. During my time at The Spin Summit earlier this May, quite a few of these deeper understandings and changes within myself took place, of which I would like to share a few.

1. Flow is universal

While I’ve been thinking about this subject frequently since I started hooping, I was absolutely blown away by some of the flow I witnessed at The Spin Summit.  It was the first time I saw upwards of five poi spun by one person. It was the first time I saw clubs being used in such unique ways through balance and other manipulation techniques aside from juggling (although the juggling was amazing itself). This wasn’t, however, the first time I witnessed seemingly impossible things happen with a prop. So why was I taken to such a new high within this personal understanding of mine? It was because I realized that flow (in other words, energy) already runs through literally everything (well, duh… wait for it), it’s just that it’s up to us to tap into it.

I have observed so many spinners disappointedly claim they don’t have any flow (a thought which should be chucked out the door as soon as possible, by the way) in a manner that indicates it is nonexistent. All energy is borrowed, which consequently means that flow isn’t something that can be created out of nothing. We simply need to tap into the abundance of flow that already exists everywhere around us. Every single person has the ability to do so in some shape or form whether it’s through prop manipulation, writing, the use of one’s mind, etc… and that is Absolutely. Freaking. Beautiful.

2. Listen to your body

A little over five years ago I was unwillingly immersed in the art of listening deeply to my body because of severe disc herniations in my lumbar spine. Although I am now pain-free a majority of the time, it is only because I continually listen to my body telling me what feels good and what doesn’t. The Spin Summit brought with it at points a little physical pain. However, I was able to deepen my ability to stop, listen, and focus on freeing myself from its grasp. It was a good reminder for me, and ALL of us, not to overwork the body and set some healthy boundaries, especially when we are immersed in a weekend-long, physically intensive series of workshops.

3. It’s okay to mess up

This one is pretty self-explanatory, but every time I see amazing performances like the ones at The Spin Summit, one of the factors that make them amazing is the ability to gracefully mess up in front of hundreds of people. This means that making mistakes in our personal practice is perfectly okay, too, and in fact, they are necessary. They help us grow, learn, and develop our techniques. We should be thanking them, really.

4. Don’t be afraid to try new things

New tricks, new dance moves, new props. Try it all! Trying new things allows us to become more well-rounded in our overall practice, and experimenting with new props can especially help us develop deeper understandings of our first love. I was finally able to get a staff at The Spin Summit, and I must say, the highs of nailing moves with it are as wonderful as they were when I first started hooping. It is also helping me understand balance on such a greater level, which is spilling over into my hooping practice.

5. Bigger is better…. for some

Hoopers have begun using smaller and smaller and smaller and, you guessed it, smaller hoops in their everyday practice. I started to follow this trend for a bit because I like trying new sizes and different widths of tubing (and I still do!), but Baxter’s workshop at The Spin Summit made me realize I feel more in-tune with my flow when I use a larger hoop and move at a slightly slower pace. I went straight back home and made myself some new 35” hoops, and I couldn’t feel better about where my practice is going. Use what size feels right for YOU, whether it is 28” or 48”, only you know what is best for the majority of your practice.

I’m so grateful for the experiences I had at The Spin Summit this year. They will undoubtedly influence me and my practice for the rest of my life, and as flow festival season kicks into high gear, I encourage each and every one of you to stay open-minded and flexible. Allow your inner child to shine through, and stay interested in subtleties. Our lives could always use a little more play and exploration. 

***Amber Lane of Lucid Hooping is a general lover-of-life and hoop enthusiast. After being diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and two herniated discs at the age of 17, she entered the world of medicine. She discovered the hoop and meditation in 2010 when she was 19 and instantly fell in love, not only because they boosted her self-confidence to new highs, but also because these modalities magically healed her chronic pain. Life since then has been a whirlwind of learning and sharing self-healing techniques and manifesting the life of her dreams. Through Lucid Hooping she hopes to help others in their journeys to health and true happiness through self-healing and transformation.

June 3, 2014 by